PROGRAMS TO LOWER DRUG USE FACE CUTS

Funding: Prevention Activities At Several Housing Projects May Be
Eliminated If A Federal Grant Is Dropped.

For the dozen "Junior Troopers" making bracelets in a Pico-Aliso community
center, the time here potentially prevents them from being exposed to drugs
on the streets of the Boyle Heights housing project.

For years this and an array of other programs here and at seven other
public housing projects operated by the Los Angeles Housing Authority have
aimed to combat drugs. But the $1.9-million federal grant that helps fund
such programs is in danger of being eliminated.

The Public Housing Drug Elimination Program would be cut under the
Department of Housing and Urban Development's budget for the coming fiscal
year. The $309-million program is used by housing authorities throughout
the country--including almost three dozen in California.

Other Southern California agencies that receive funds include the Los
Angeles County Housing Authority--with four public housing developments
using the funds--the Upland Housing Authority and the Ventura County
Housing Authority.

"There will be some direct impact on our kids," said John Garcia, the Los
Angeles authority's director of resident relations, during a visit to the
sprawling Pico-Aliso development.

HUD officials say discontinuing the drug-elimination program will allow the
agency to focus on its main mission--promoting home ownership and providing
affordable housing with its $30.4-billion budget.

"HUD's mission is to provide safe and affordable and decent housing," said
Nancy Segerdahl, a spokeswoman for the agency.

HUD officials say that housing authorities can still operate anti-drug
programs through HUD's $150-million Public Housing Capital Fund.

There's an effort in Washington to try to restore the money when the budget
is finalized later this year.

"It's unconscionable to eliminate a program like this," said Rep. Maxine
Waters (D-Los Angeles). "We are going to do everything that we can to try
and convince Mr. Bush that he should not do this."

Many housing agencies have come to rely on the drug-elimination program
since it was started in 1989 during President George Bush's administration.

"We think it is a very ill-advised move on HUD's part," said Timothy
Kaiser, executive director of the Public Housing Authority Directors Assn.

To be sure, the funds that the Los Angeles Housing Authority would lose
represent only a fraction of its resources. Other funds--including federal
grants--pay for an array of programs here and at Nickerson Gardens,
Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Dana Strand Village, Mar Vista Gardens, San
Fernando Gardens and Pueblo del Rio.

At Aliso-Pico there's a computer learning center. Other programs include
"Safe Passages"--a program in which adults escort children safely to
school. There's also a "Vocabulary Basketball League," involving the eight
projects that combines spelling and athletics.

"They teach you not doing drugs, how to stay healthy," Crystal Aguilar, 11,
says about the Junior Troopers program.

The Los Angeles Housing Authority says that the drug elimination program
funds have worked--pointing to a 46% drop in crime inside its complexes
over the last five years.

It dedicates about 45% of its HUD drug-elimination grant to its 73-officer,
in-house public safety department.

But law enforcement should not be its mission, HUD says.

"If we were asking the Justice Department to handle the housing crisis
around the country that would be ridiculous," said Segerdahl. "Local police
departments should enforce the law in the wealthy neighborhoods as well as
the public housing areas."

But this is merely one point of disagreement.

HUD also disputes the success claims of many of the housing authorities'
programs around the county, pointing to some efforts--field trips, computer
rooms, recreation--that have nothing to do with fighting drugs.

HUD points especially to one known as the "Creative Wellness HELP" program
that promoted stress-reduction among project residents through the use of
gem stones, incense and candles.

HUD's inspector general recently issued a report on the program nationally
that questioned, among other things, housing authorities' systems for
monitoring and evaluating their programs.

Housing officials counter that good programs--drug counseling, after-school
homework assistance--should not be penalized.

"You don't throw out a program that has been hugely successful because of
the problems of just a few," said Kaiser.

One leader in the effort to save the funding is Rep. Tom Sawyer (D-Ohio),
who has gathered 100 signatures from colleagues--including 14 from
California--on a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to restore the
funding.

"If [HUD is] is unable to continue the drug-prevention efforts, the
problems will return," said Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar), highlighting
the success of the program in Upland.

Reverting to the past, indeed, is what Carmen Trelles, a longtime resident
of Pico-Aliso, fears. The once drug-infested community has become more
livable. In fact, she has been thinking of having a camp out on the complex
lawn as a treat for her two kids.

"The reason we never did that [before] was because of the danger of
shootings," she said.